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New AmeriCorps Crew Members Sworn In

Serving the San Bernardino National Forest

By Michael P. Neufeld
Tuesday, December 8, 2009

San Bernardino, CA - The graduates of the AmeriCorps program were once competing for 20 slots on the San Bernardino National Forest crew. But this past week they were sworn in to provide public service work in the national forest by Supervisor Jeanne Wade Evans.

Applicants for the Americorps program, offered through the San Bernardino National Forest Association, prepare for a 6-mile hike as part of the application process. (Photo by SBNFA.)

Evans performed the swearing in ceremony for 20 young Americans, who competed earlier this year to be members of the crew, after the sponsoring San Bernardino National Forest Association received an overwhelming number of applications.

These young, local adults enrolled in the newly-formed AmeriCorps program a few weeks ago and they will now help rebuild trails on the San Bernardino National Forest, as well as other service projects that impact the National Forest and surrounding communities. The AmeriCorps crew is managed by the San Bernardino National Forest Association (SBNFA).

San Bernardino National Forest Supervisor Jeanne Wade Evans (Photo by Michael P. Neufeld.)

"These service projects are ideal learning opportunities for young adults," Evans stated. "While they are working to restore public land, they are also learning about the history of the America's national service programs."

"Many folks have been instrumental in the formation and funding of the new AmeriCorps crew," added Sarah Miggins, Executive Director for the SBNFA. "This crew is poised to create history and honor those who walked before them."

AmeriCorps performs work in the spirit of the original Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) inspired by President Franklin D. Roosevelt during economic crisis. The CCC helped restore the nation's parks and forests, revitalize the economy, and supported their families and themselves. The CCC planted three billion trees. In fact, there were several CCC camps located on and near the San Bernardino National Forest.

Now, nearly 70 years later, the SBNFA AmeriCorps is carrying on the tradition and is putting over 20 AmeriCorps members to work on the San Bernardino National Forest and within the City of San Bernardino.

New corps members include: Michael Pacheco, Rene Rosales, Chris Wright, Pete Bon, Kenderick McKenny, Andrea Bueno, Adem Lizaola, Brett Paris, Molina Su, Ben Schreiber, Chris Kidd, Alfred Villagas, Nicholas Brown, Danny Carter, Aaron Jones, Juan Zambrano, Herlinda Ortiz, Juan Blanco, and Maria Cambray.

This article was first published on Monday, December 7, 2009 at 11:10 am. This article has been viewed 1056 times.

Michael P. Neufeld, RIMOFTHEWORLD.net Managing News Editor, is a graduate of the Dwight Bentel School of Journalism at San Jose State University. His first job out of San Jose State was with the Associated Press in Los Angeles as overnight Radio Editor. Prior to joining RIMOFTHEWORLD.net, Neufeld was editor of two weekly newspapers—THE MOUNTAIN NEWS and CRESTLINE COURIER-NEWS. He also has experience as editor of an employee newspaper for a major utility company and during his tenure as executive director of the San Jose State University Alumni Association served as faculty advisor to the association's monthly newsletter. He also spent eight years in commercial radio doing everything from news to advertising sales and writing commercials to being an announcer and on-air personality. Neufeld is actively involved the mountain communities including serving as master of ceremonies for the Arrowhead Arts Music Festival held each summer.

The views expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect those of RIMOFTHEWORLD.net. This column is copyrighted by Michael P. Neufeld.